“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. Psalm 37:4-5 (NLT)

I love this verse. Interestingly though, I’ve noticed how often we refer to the first portion of the scripture without considering the second. There is great hope and promise to be found in this passage, but there is also instruction. There is a call to action. First, we are to delight in the Lord. The word translated “delight” comes from a root that means “to be brought up in luxury, to be pampered.” I absolutely love Warren Wiersbe’s commentary. He explains that, “The word 'delight' in this portion of scripture speaks of the abundance of the blessings we have in the Lord Himself, totally apart from what He gives us.

To enjoy the blessings and ignore the ‘Blesser’ is to practice idolatry. In Jesus Christ, we have all God’s treasures, and we need no other. If we truly delight in the Lord, then the chief desire of our hearts will be to know Him better so we can delight in Him even more, and the Lord will satisfy that desire! This is not a promise for people who want ‘things,’ but for those who want more of God in their lives.” Second, we are to commit all our ways – everything we do – to the Lord and trust Him. These two conditions are required to make sure our hearts and motives are of a holy nature. Our steps of obedience and action precede the promise. From this scripture we understand that when our heart’s desires line up with God’s, when our trust is securely placed in Him, then will we enjoy His help and witness the fulfillment of our desires.

Is there something in your life you want so badly that it supersedes the desire to solely know God and grow close to Him? Is there something you pray for but don’t see Him responding to? Have you considered it thoroughly to make sure it lines up with God’s best for you? He will never give you something that won’t ultimately lead you closer to Him. What are your deepest desires today? How can you draw near to God and allow Him to meet you there to satisfy them?